Safety Harness For Babies

ABSTRACT

A restraint for securing a baby on a top surface of a mattress is disclosed. The restrain includes a rectangular sheet of flexible webbing which can be secured to the mattress by a plurality of elongated loops mounted to the corners of the rectangular sheet. The elongated loops are dimensioned to wrap snuggly around the mattress such that the rectangular sheet is held taught on the surface of the mattress when the loops are wrapped around the mattress. A belt made of flexible webbing is provided to wrap around the baby and snugly secure the baby. Finally, the restraint further includes an elongated tether made of elastic webbing secured to a center portion of the rectangular sheet and to the belt, the elongated tether having a length selected to keep the belt on top of the rectangular sheet.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates generally to safety harnesses for securing a babysafely on the mattress of a bed.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Small babies are often placed on beds, change tables or other surfacesin order to facilitate diaper changes and the like. Given the tendencyof babies to move about, there is a real possibility that the baby mayaccidentally roll over and off the bed or table resulting in injury tothe baby. The problem is generally tackled by the parent holding thebaby down with one hand while changing the baby. This requires theparent to be in constant attendance with the baby. Devices forpreventing the child from rolling off the bed or table top generallyconsist of a cage, barrier or other obstacle designed to contain thebaby in an enclosed space. The problem with these types of enclosures isthat they are difficult to install and often make it difficult to usethe bed or table top for anything else. An improved restraining devicewhich is easy to install and which is not obtrusive would be beneficial.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a restraint for securing a baby on a top surface of a mattresshaving a width and a length. The restrain includes a rectangular sheetof flexible webbing, the rectangular sheet having a length and widthsmaller than the length and width of the mattress, the rectangular sheethaving four corners. The restraint also includes a plurality ofelongated loops made of elastic webbing mounted to the corners of therectangular sheet. The elongated loops are dimensioned to wrap snugglyaround the mattress such that the rectangular sheet is held taught onthe surface of the mattress when the loops are wrapped around themattress. A belt made of flexible webbing having a length and oppositeends is also included. The belt has complimentary coupling elementsformed along the length of the belt, the length of the belt beingselected to permit the belt to wrap around the baby and snugly securethe baby with in the belt by engaging the coupling elements. Finally,the restraint further includes an elongated tether made of elasticwebbing having opposite first and second ends, the first end of theelongated tether being secured to a center portion of the rectangularsheet, the second end of the elongated tether being secured to the belt,the elongated tether having a length selected to keep the belt on top ofthe rectangular sheet.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a restraint for securing a baby on a top surface of a flatsupport member having a width and a length, the restrain comprising. Theflat support member can be any flat surface intended to support a babysuch as a change table, mattress or bed. The restraint includes arectangular sheet of flexible webbing having a length and width smallerthan the length and width of the flat support member, the rectangularsheet having four corners. A plurality of elongated loops made ofelastic webbing are mounted to the corners of the rectangular sheet, theelongated loops dimensioned to wrap snuggly around the flat supportmember such that the rectangular sheet is held taught on the surface ofthe flat support member when the loops are wrapped around the flatsupport member. The restraint is also provided with a belt made of aflexible webbing having a length and opposite ends, the belt havingcomplimentary coupling elements formed along the length of the belt, thelength of the belt being selected to permit the belt to wrap around thebaby and snugly secure the baby with in the belt by engaging thecoupling elements. Finally, the restrain includes an elongated tethermade of elastic webbing having opposite first and second ends, the firstend of the elongated tether being secured to a center portion of therectangular sheet, the second end of the elongated tether being securedto the belt, the elongated tether having a length selected to keep thebelt on top of the rectangular sheet.

With the foregoing in view, and other advantages as will become apparentto those skilled in the art to which this invention relates as thisspecification proceeds, the invention is herein described by referenceto the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, which includes adescription of the preferred typical embodiment of the principles of thepresent invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a restraint made in accordance with oneaspect of the present invention.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate correspondingparts in the different FIGURES.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIG. 1, the present invention, shown generally as item 10,consists of a rectangular sheet 12 preferably made of a soft yet durablecloth such as cotton. Rectangular sheet 12 is dimensioned to fit on topof support surface 14. Support surface 14 could be any elevated flatsurface intended to support baby 11 although the present invention hasparticular application for use with beds and bed mattresses. In thepresent illustration, support surface 14 takes the form of a mattress.Mattress 14 has a length 18, a width 20 and a thickness 22. Rectangularsheet 12 has a length 24 and a width 26. Length 24 and width 26 ofrectangular sheet 12 are significantly smaller than length 18 and width20 of mattress 14 such that the sheet can fit flat and unruffled on thesurface of mattress 14 when the rectangular sheet is stretched out.Sheet 12 has opposite ends 31 and 33 and opposite sides 35 and 37, andcorners 28, 30, 32 and 34. Elongated strap 38 extends between and isattached to corners 32 and 34. Likewise, elongated strap 36 extendsbetween and is attached to corners 28 and 30. Elongated straps (bands)36 and 38 are preferably made of a loop of elasticized fabric materialand are dimensioned such that they fit snugly around the width ofmattress 14 such that opposite sides 35 and 37 of sheet 12 are heldtaught. Elongated straps 36 and 38 may also be provided with quickconnect couplings as illustrated to permit the quick attachment anddetachment of the straps to the mattress. Also, elongated straps 36 and38 may be made to have an adjustable length to permit the use of theinvention on different sized mattresses/beds. The quick connectcouplings may also provide for the adjustment of the length of theelongated straps so that the same restraining device can be used withmattresses and tables of different dimensions. Elongated strap (band) 40connects corners 34 and 30 and elongated strap (band) 42 connectscorners 28 and 32 of sheet 12. Elongated straps 40 and 42 are preferablymade of an elasticized fabric material and are dimensioned such that thestraps fit snuggly around the length of mattress 14 in order to keepends 31 and 33 taught against the mattress. Preferably the lengths ofeach of the straps is dimensioned such that when the straps arestretched over the mattress, rectangular sheet 12 is fully stretched outand held taught onto the surface of mattress 12. The straps not only actto keep the sheet fully taught, but also act to keep the sheetimmobilized, preventing the sheet from moving on the mattress. This isan important feature as it permits the restraining device to remain onthe mattress even when the device is not being used to restrain a baby.

A belt restraint 16 is secured to sheet 12 towards the centre of thesheet. Belt restraint 16 consists of a belt 44 having opposite ends withcoupling elements 46 and 50. Belt 44 is secured to sheet 12 by elastictether 48 which has opposite ends. One end of tether 48 is secured tobelt 44 while the opposite end of tether 48 is secured to a centre ofsheet 12. Tether 48 may be secured to sheet 12 by means known generallyin the art, such as sewing, glue, snaps and the like. Coupling elements46 and 50 can be any suitable complementary coupling elements such asVelcro™, buttons, hooks, snaps or even a quick connect buckle. Thelength of belt 44 can be made adjustable. Preferably, belt 44 isdimensioned so that it can fit snuggly around the torso of baby 11 andthe belt secured by coupling elements 46 and 50. Tether 48 is preferablymade of a resilient elastic chord which is sufficiently flexible topermit the baby to move freely allowing the baby to play and interactwith the parent or guardian.

When baby 11 is secured in restraining belt 44, tether 48 keeps the babyfrom moving off of sheet 12. By securing the baby onto the mattresssurface, the tether ensures that the parent/guardian feels secure thatthe baby will not fall off the mattress. Sheet 12 ensures that thesurface the baby is resting on is clean, dry and safe. Straps 36, 38, 40and 42 ensure that sheet 12 does not bunch up or wrap around the baby,and further ensures that the sheet does not move, thereby ensuring thatthe baby cannot move off the surface of mattress 14. When the device isnot being used, sheet 12 can remain in place. Tether 48 may optionallyhave a releasable coupling for coupling to sheet 12 so that even babyrestraint 16 can be removed when it is not to be used. It is importantto note that safety harness 10 is not intended to replace a baby cribbut rather to provide parents and guardians with peace of mind byensuring that the baby can sleep securely on a bed/mattress without therisk of the baby falling off the bed all the while allowing the babyfreedom to move comfortably. In cases where a parent or guardian desiresto have their baby sleep on a bed/mattress, the safety harnesseliminates the need to secure the baby in place by the use of pillows orthe like. The combination of harness and tether makes it possible forthe baby to move freely while sleeping/resting while making itimpossible for the baby to move to the edge of the mattress, therebyensuring in the parents/guardians mind that the baby cannot fall off thebed.

A specific embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed;however, several variations of the disclosed embodiment could beenvisioned as within the scope of this invention. It is to be understoodthat the present invention is not limited to the embodiments describedabove, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of thefollowing claims

Therefore, what is claimed is:
 1. A restraint for securing a baby on atop surface of a mattress having a width and a length, the restraincomprising: a. A rectangular sheet of flexible webbing having oppositefirst and second sides and opposite first and second ends, therectangular sheet having first and second corners on opposite sides ofthe first end and third and forth corners on opposite sides of thesecond end, the rectangular sheet dimensioned to have a shorter widthand length than the mattress; b. a first elongated loop made of elasticwebbing coupling the first and third corners, and a second elongatedloop made of elastic webbing coupling the second and fourth corners, thefirst and second elongated loop each being dimensioned to snuggly wraparound the mattress; c. a third elongated loop made of elastic webbingcoupling the first and second corners, and a forth elongated loop madeof elastic webbing coupling the third and fourth corners, the third andfourth elongated loop each being dimensioned to snuggly wrap around themattress, each of the third and fourth elongated loops having quickconnect couplings for coupling to the second and fourth corners,respectively; d. an elongated band made of a flexible webbing, theelongated band having a length and opposite first and second ends, firstand second complementary coupling elements being formed on the first andsecond ends of the elongated band, respectively, the length of theelongated band being selected to permit the band to wrap around the babyand secure the baby with the band by coupling together the first andsecond coupling elements; e. an elongated tether made of elastic webbinghaving opposite first and second ends, the first end of the elongatedtether being secured to a center portion of the rectangular sheet, thesecond end of the elongated tether being secured to the elongated band,the elongated tether having a length selected to keep the elongated bandon top of the rectangular sheet.
 2. A restraint for securing a baby on atop surface of a mattress having a width and a length, the restraincomprising: a. A rectangular sheet of flexible webbing, the rectangularsheet having a length and width smaller than the length and width of themattress, the rectangular sheet having four corners; b. A plurality ofelongated loops made of elastic webbing mounted to the corners of therectangular sheet, the elongated loops dimensioned to wrap snugglyaround the mattress such that the rectangular sheet is held taught onthe surface of the mattress when the loops are wrapped around themattress; c. A belt made of a flexible webbing having a length andopposite ends, the belt having complimentary coupling elements formedalong the length of the belt, the length of the belt being selected topermit the belt to wrap around the baby and snugly secure the baby within the belt by engaging the coupling elements, and d. an elongatedtether made of elastic webbing having opposite first and second ends,the first end of the elongated tether being secured to a center portionof the rectangular sheet, the second end of the elongated tether beingsecured to the belt, the elongated tether having a length selected tokeep the belt on top of the rectangular sheet.
 3. A restraint forsecuring a baby on a top surface of a flat support member having a widthand a length, the restrain comprising: a. A rectangular sheet offlexible webbing, the rectangular sheet having a length and widthsmaller than the length and width of the flat support member, therectangular sheet having four corners; b. A plurality of elongated loopsmade of elastic webbing mounted to the corners of the rectangular sheet,the elongated loops dimensioned to wrap snuggly around the flat supportmember such that the rectangular sheet is held taught on the surface ofthe flat support member when the loops are wrapped around the flatsupport member; c. A belt made of a flexible webbing having a length andopposite ends, the belt having complimentary coupling elements formedalong the length of the belt, the length of the belt being selected topermit the belt to wrap around the baby and snugly secure the baby within the belt by engaging the coupling elements, and d. an elongatedtether made of elastic webbing having opposite first and second ends,the first end of the elongated tether being secured to a center portionof the rectangular sheet, the second end of the elongated tether beingsecured to the belt, the elongated tether having a length selected tokeep the belt on top of the rectangular sheet.